Chapter 7: Dinner

Althea layed on the bed again and was lost in thought only to sit properly again when she heard the footsteps of someone approaching. She grapped hold on the blanket and looked straight at the door that was closed as she waited for him to walk in again.

She held her breath when the door opened only to see a young girl standing there.

“Baroness” the girl with dark hair and and green eyes greeted her.

“Who are you?”

“I was assigned to your quarters to help you with your daily needs, Baroness”

“Mmmm” Althea stood up and walked past her to the living room area and then to the large balcony that had a great view of the mountains in the distance.

Nina followed her closely and stood 5 feets away from her on the balcony.

From where she stood, she could see servants working and moving around the premises.

“The Baron assigned you to me?”

“I was assigned by the Butler, mister Young but I’m sure it was by the order of the Baron”

“Mmm” she muttered

He has sent someone to monitor her every move even inside the chamber.

Nina admired the young Baroness who was very beautiful and graceful. One could tell from afar that she was born into royalty. But there is something else about her, Nina could not pinpoint, she felt the Baroness was way more special than just being from royalty.

She could tell from the abilities she has

Since she came into the Baron residence, everyone has being talking about her. About how she is a foreigner and a mere human and how she is not befitting to be Baroness or the wife of the Baron.

“There will be a dinner with the Baron’s family at night”

“Mmm” she muttered, not like she had a choice and could decline

“I’m here to serve you as your right hand maid, so you can ask me to do anything”

As someone born into royalty, Althea knew the job of a right hand maid which is to serve her mistress and do everything she is asked to. The only way she could one day leave this place is to get to know her surroundings starting by knowing all she could about the Baron, his family and even Westland.

Althea turned to face her new maid “you can tell me all I need to know about the Barons family”

**************

Arthur walked into the study room and bowed his head

“Have you informed everyone?”

“Yes Baron”

“You can leave, when I need you I will call you” Damian said while going through the papers in his hand.

“I’m here as your friend and not your right hand man”

Damian looked up at him “Seat”

Arthur sat on the chair across the table “What happened?”

“What do you mean, what happened?

“The princess”

Damian gave him a cold look

Arthur coughed “I mean the Baroness”

“What are you referring to?”

“You don’t look happy, rather you are more angry than ever. I thought marrying her is what you wanted and also on the other hand it looks like she didn’t want to…….”

Damian stopped him from speaking any further, he didn’t want anyone else reminding him of how she was unwilling to marry him.

Seeing that he didn’t want to speak about it, Arthur stood up “Remember I’m always here if you want to talk to someone” Arthur bowed his head and walked to the door but stopped when he heard what Damian said.

“She doesn’t remember me”

Arthur turned and faced “What do you mean she doesn’t?”

“I will handle it on my own, now leave” Damian ordered.

Arthur wanted to say something else but at a second thought he walked out of the study room.

**************

That Evening, Members of the Carter family arrived at the Baron’s residence for the family dinner. The last family dinner was when Damian was made Baron and ever since then he hasn’t called for any dinner.

They all already heard about his sudden trip to the North and how he shockingly married one of the king’s daughters who is a mere human. They were not in support of this and were going to speak about it during the elders meeting.

As a Baron who had the most superior beast and held a position of great value, a woman who is to be the Baroness should also possess a beast and have great power.

The Carter family possess unique abilities and a profound connection to the land and its wild spirits. They were refered to as protectors of Westland, defending the realm from external threats and maintaining the delicate balance between humans and the supernatural.

The arrival of Althea into the Baron's family as a human Baroness can disrupt the long-standing traditions and expectations.

The elders and other members of the Carter family took their seats in the large dining hall that had about 50 chairs.

Althea had seen from the balcony how the carriages rode into the main building. Nina had given her a brief history about the Carter family and Damian who became Baron at the age of 18 after his father died. And even with the fact that he was young, he was able to handle his position well and to his at most that everyone started being afraid of him more than they're afraid of the king.

“Baroness, is time for us to go”

Althea turned and faced her new maid “Okay”

When they left her chamber, they were occupied with some guards dressed in black. She didn’t need anyone to tell her that she was the only human here, everyone including her maid were werewolf’s. They look like humans but the fact that there is a beast in them makes them different.

She possessing immense power and abilities made her think that she was different amongst everyone in the North but coming here and seeing those who were more extraordinary compared to her made her feel now that she is more human.

The large dinner room that was noisy became silent when she walked in. She could feel all eyes on her as she was shown to her seat by Nina, she could hear them whispering.

She is sure she is the only one who could not hear exactly what they were saying since she didn’t have the ability to.

She sat on her chair which was on the right hand side on the head chair where the Baron would seat.

She stared at the empty glasses and plates on the table instead of staring at the people on the table.

The presence of the Baron was announced and they all stood up to show respect. Everyone spoke in a language she didn’t understand.

Hee heart beat increased when he sat on the head chair and signaled for everyone to take their seat.

She took her seat while her eyes were still staring at the table.

She felt Damian’s eyes on her but she didn’t dare to look up at him.

This time around the whole table was silent, dead silent. Nobody said a word or even whispered, they were all afraid of their lives.

Removing his gaze on her, Damian looked at each and everyone on the table to see if anyone had dared to disobey his dinner invitation. When he saw they were all present, he went ahead to speak.

“I know that you all already know why you are here” his voice echoed in the large dining room “Seating at my right hand is your new Baroness, my wife”

Althea looked up at him then her gaze went to everyone on the table who were now looking at her. By the description Nina gave her, the middle aged lady sitting right opposite her on the table is the Baron’s late mothers sister, His aunt.

Her face didn’t show it, but her eyes definitely showed how displeased she is of her and that goes for everyone else on the table but no one dared to express their displeasure.

According to what Nina told her, the Baron was to select a wife from the 12 tribes of Westland but he broke the long standing tradition by going ahead to marry a girl that is a complete stranger, a foreigner that knew nothing about their ways of life and to crown it all a mere human.

Just as they felt she is not supposed to be here, she also felt the same. Althea was relieved because if everyone disagreed with his choice and rejected her, she might soon be on her way back home.

After the dinner was over, Damian had instructed them to take her back to her chamber.

She felt so relieved that she had left the dining room, when she got up the chamber, Nina helped her with her dress and she changed to something free before laying on the bed.

In the middle of the night, Damian walked into her room and watch as she slept peacefully. He walked to the bed and climbed on it.

He laid close to her and drew her close to himself then wrapped his hand around her. He leaned closer and kissed her.

Althea snapped her eyes but did not see anyone in the bed or in the room. She touched her lips, she was very sure someone was here or was she dreaming?